Musical instrument



June 11, 1940. R. B. QuArTRocloccHE 2,204,150

MUS I CAL INSTRUMENT Filed May 20, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 11, 1940- R. s. QUATTRocloccHE 2,204,150

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed May 20, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fabel- B.

Patented June 11, 1940' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to musical instruments generally referred to in the art as fretted stringed instruments, such as guitars, mandolins, and etc. The invention relates, however, more in particular to an improved body structure therefore.

It is well known that the harsh and abrupt sound of a vibrating string alone, does not produce the iine character of tone desired in instruments of this class. Therefore the instruments are usually constructed with a hollow body member upon which the strings impart their vibrations. These bodies are so formed and designed as to modify the sounds of the Vibrating strings and give to each specific instrument a pleasing and harmonious` tone when the strings are vibrated by the player.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved body structure which will improve the tone of these instruments.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved method of supporting the neck, or string supporting member, to the body.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement of reenforcing ribs secured to the underside of the upper face of the body which will increase the volume of the tone of the instrument.

A further object of the invention is to provide a musical instrument which can be manufactured at a comparatively low cost which will be equal in tone to those of a much higher price.

With these and other objects of the invention in View which will be more apparent from the following specication taken in connection with the drawings which form a part of this application and in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the musical instrument.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan View of the same.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is fragmentary horizontal sectional View through the body of the instrument taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of one of the supporting rib members I6.

Referring now in particular to the drawings, the present embodiment of the invention comprises a body portion having a side Wall 2, a top 2a, and a bottom 2b.. Associated with and secured to the body is a neck member 4.A The neck has positioned on the upper side thereof a fretted finger board 6. The instrument is also provided with the customary strings B, which are secured to the body by the tail piece or member yI0 and to the outer end of the neck member 4 by the keys I2. These keys are operable in such a'manner as to adjust the tension of the strings. The strings are supported upwardly from the finger board and the top of the body of the instrument by the bridge I4.

The tail piece I0 is secured to the body and one end of the neck member 4 by the screws 5, which pass through appropriate apertures located therein, through the side wall of the body of the instrument and into the end of the neck member 4 at 4b.

One of the novel features in the construction of the instrument is the manner in which the neck member 4 is secured to the body member 2. The neck is made from a single piece of material and adapted to extend through the entire body between the bottom and top surfaces, as shown in Fig. 3. The neck is formed at 4a land 4b to t the curvature of the side walls of the body and is secured thereto by glueing or any other suitable manner. By this structure it is readily seen that the strings are solely supported between the ends of the one piece neck member 4. This provides the maximum strength in supporting the strings. The portion of the neck lying between the limits of the side walls of the body is slightly reduced in size as shown at 4c, in order to reduce interference with the sound Waves emanating from the inner surface of the hollow body.l

Secured to the under side of the top of the body are a plurality of radial veins or ribs IE and a specially formed rib Il which extends outwardly from a small conned area 2". The bridge I4 supporting the strings, is located substantially on a line passing through the area 2,

in order that the vibrations from the bridge may be more readily transferred to this area. The single rib I'I is positioned beneath the top 2a similar to the ribs I6 and is located below the bridge I4. This rib is provided With a substantially Wide center section and is tapered toward the ends. The width of the central section of this rib is substantially the same as the distance between the two inner ribs I6 at a point on the body beneath the bridge I4 and is secured along the side walls of the two inner ribs I6 from this point to the ends of the ribs I6 adjacent the area 2". The taper of the rib I'I being of the same pitch as the angle formed between the two inner rib members I6.

A further improvement in the body of the instrument is shown best in Fig. 4. The side wall 2 is shorter in height on one side than it is on the other which is designated as 2. This difference in height of the side Walls causes the body to be tapered transversely of its length. Within the higher side of the side Wall there is provided an opening 3, which is' shown best in Fig. 2, through which the sound Waves are emitted. Although this opening is specically located adjacent the neck 4 it may be positioned near the center of the wall portion 2"', or extend along a greater distance along the side Wall of the instrument than is at present shown.

The general outline of the body, is of substantially flat heart shaped form, as shown best in Fig. 1. The neck member 4 is not located in the center of the body as it is in most instruments of this kind, but is located nearest the side having the shorter side wall, in order to locate the bridge I4 within a relatively short distance of the area 2 of the top member 2a.

The novelty of the invention as before intimated is predicated upon the structural characteristics as hereinabove set forth. For example, the radial ribs not only support the top of the body, but aid in increasing the volume of the tone, furthermore, the strings of higher pitch are located adjacent the narrow short side of the body and the lower pitched strings are located adjacent the wider and larger side of the instrument. Therefore the strings having a higher number of vibrations will be adjacent the side of the body of the least dimensions, while the lower pitched strings are adjacent the side of the body having the greater dimensions.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in a particular form it is not intended that it be limited to this particular disclosure and description of use, as the scope of the invention is best dened in the following claim.

I claim:

In a portable stringed musical instrument comprising a hollow body having a top and bottom supported by a side wall member, a neck member extending outwardly from said body, the strings being attached to the outer end of the neck and to the hollow body, a bridge member supported on the upper top surface of the body for sup porting the strings upwardly over the upper surface of the top and neel; member, the body being bisected into a small and large area by the said strings, a plurality of radial ribs secured to the under surface of the top and extending outwardly from a point adjacent the side and in line with the said bridge in the lesser body arca to the opposite side of the top in the larger arca and an opening in the side wall member supporting the greater body area for allowing the vibrating air within the hollow body to 3e emitted.

ROBERT B. QUATTROCIOCCHE. 

